Light buoy



June 7, 19 38. T. 0, DAY

LIGHT BUOY Filed Aug. 28, 1937 a 21 126 (5 g n 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 IIW June 7, 1938. T. o. DAY 2,119,854

LIGHT'BUOY Filed Aug. .28, 1957 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES LISiHT BUOY Thomas 0. Day, Baton Rouge, La., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1937, Serial No. 161,375

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a light buoy of the type used to temporarily and in an approximate fashion, mark a general area on the surface of a body of water when the buoy is cast overside from a moving vessel. Most vessels carry buoys of some such type for the purpose of marking the approximate positions at which a pas-' senger or a member of the crew may have gone overboard and to which position it is desired to return for search. For such emergency useit has been customary in the past to use floating flares which are ignited upon contact with the water. However, such flares constitute a considerable fire hazard when used aboard vessel transporting petroleum or other highly inflammable or explosive materials or if used when the vessel is proceeding thru substantially closed bodies of water in which there is little or no circulation and on the surface of which oil or other inflammable substances may have accumulated. Under such circumstances it is desirable to use a selfcontained electric buoy and according to the present invention a most eflicient buoy of such type is provided as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the buoy also in section; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the transverse partition within the buoy showing an alternate means for mounting the receptacle for the lower end of the battery casing.

Referring-now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, numeral l indicates a buoy composed oi. upper and lower hollow conic sections 2 and 3 respectively, a lamp-casing or lantern head .4 secured to the upper section 2 and a batterycasing 5 within the buoy and extending into the lamp-casing.

The sections 2 and 3 are of equal diameter at their bases and are joined to each other thereby by welding or brazing or in an equivalent manner. The projected and actual altitudes of the lower section 3 are substantially greater than those of the upper section 2. Each section is provided with corrugated portions 6 circumierentially disposed at any point on their surfaces but preferably adjacent the point of union between he sections. Alternatively, the sections may be uted longitudinally on their surfaces.

In the narrow end of the lower portion 3 is fltted an internally threaded pipe coupling I which is suitably secured in water tight relation to the edges of the opening in said portion. A threaded pipe plug 8 is provided for the protrudcured to the flashlight casing.

ing end of the coupling which plug when set in litharge cement or otherwise treated will provide a watertight removable, closure. A wire bail 9 and eyes l0 therefore which are secured exteriorly of the wall of the lower portion 3provide means for carrying or storing the buoy in an inverted position. In the interiorof the section 3 adjacent the lower end thereof, a flat disc ll of metal is permanently secured to the side wall at right angles to the center line of the buoy. This disc provides a watertight partition below which a chamber I2 is formed which is adapted to receive ballast material such as sand. Disposed centrally of the disc H and permanently secured thereto is a receptacle l3 opening upwardly and which may be inthe form of a wire basket. This receptacle is adapted to receive the lower end of the battery casing 5. Above the disc H, spaced therefrom and from each other wire rings I4 may be secured to the inner surface of the section 3 for the purpose of providing additional reinforcement to the shell of the buoy.

At the upper end of the upper section 2 there is secured to the edge thereof by brazing, welding or in an equivalent manner, an annular plate I 5, in the central opening of which a ring member I5 is secured to the edges of the opening in any manner suitable to provide a watertight joint. The outer surface of the ring member I6 is provided with a threaded portion I! at the upper end and onthe inner surface'with an upwardly facing shoulder l8.

The battery casing 5 may be a standard com mercial flashlight casing, cylindrical in form and in the preferred construction should be adapted to receive at least five standard size flashlight cells. For the purpose of this invention, the regular flashlight switch is not utilized, a small mercury switch l9 being secured to the upper end of the casing 5 and enclosed with a shield 20 also se- Replacing the usual reflector and magnifying lens of the flashlight is a flat top cap 2| for the flashlight casing having an opening adapted to receive a flashlight bulb 22 of suitable size. The contact points of the mercury switch are connected to the base of the bulb 22 and to the casing 5 respectively by meansof suitable lead wires the circuit being broken by. inversion of the buoy and made when the buoy is man upright position as when floating in the water. The battery casing is insertable through the opening in the ring member l8 and extends downwardly intothe buoy with the lower end resting within the receptacle II. The upper end of the casing is held in the proper position arms 24 carried by an annular member 25 adapted to engage the shoulder IS on the ring member l6.

By this arrangement the upper' end of the bat-- tery casing extends above the ring member I6 into the space within the lamp casing 4 and the position of the battery casing may be adjusted as may be required by means of the clamp 23.

The lamp casing or lantern head 4 is composed of a glass globe 26 inverted over the upper end of the battery casing with the open end resting on a soft rubber gasket 21 over the annular member 25 on the shoulder l8. An additional soft rubber gasket 28 preferably of circular cross-section encircles the lower end of the glass globe and bears against the upper end of the ring member l6. An annular coupling interiorly threaded for engagement with the ring member l6 and having an inwardly extending flange 30 at its upper end is provided to exert pressure upon the gasket 28 and thru the gasket upon the globe 26 to form a vaportight and watertight seal. A metallic washer 3| is interposed between the gasket 28 and the flange 30 to prevent damage of the gasket when the coupling is screwed down. If desired, the gasket 28 and washer 3| may be formed in one unit as is sometimes customary. In addition it is desirable to provide protection for the glass globe 26 by means of a wire guard 22 which may be secured to the upper surface of the flange 30 and encircles the globe 26.

-In Fig. 2 the relationship between the section 2, the battery casing 6 and the lamp casing 4 may be more easily determined by reason of their enlargement. Like parts have been indicated by similar numbers. In addition to the portions described in connection with Fig. 1 there is shown in Fig. 2 the lead wires 33 and 34 joining the bulb 22 and the battery casing 5 respectively with the contact points of the mercury switch l9.

In Fig. 3 is shown an alternate form of construction in which the receptacle I3 is formed about the head of a machine screw 35 adapted" to be threaded into a cylindrical member 36 secured to the disc I I concentrically therewith. By this means in conjunction with the clamp 23 the height of the battery casing 5 within the globe 26 may be adjusted without loss of support.

When assembled in the manner set forth according to the description of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the buoy is ready for use and ordinarily one or more will be hung at convenient places about a vessel. When so hung, the mercury in the switch l9 uncovers the contact ends of the wires 33 and .34 within the switch so that no current flows to the bulb 22. However, when removed from its hook and thrown overboard the ballast in the lower end of thebuoy rights the buoy and causes it float with the lamp uppermost and in this pos tion the-mercuryin the switch I! closes the circult and lights the bulb 22, providing a safe and efficient lighted buoy for the service intended.

The structure described is particularly adapted to permit replacement of the batteries, battery casing or bulbs, as the entire battery casing and the clamp for positioning the battery'casing may be removed from the buoy through the ring member "5 by removal of the lamp casing or lantern head. Extra bulbs for the light may be carried in the cap for the lower end of the battery casing in the usual manner.

Although the invention specifically contemplates an emergency light buoy it is obvious that its usefulness is not limited to such service and I it is not intended to limit the invention to the foregoing description set forth for the purpose of illustration, but only by the appended claims in which it is intended to claim all novelty as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim;

1. An emergency light buoy comprising a body portion and a lantern head, a transverse partition adjacent the lower end of said body portion and a watertight ballast chamber below said partition, opening outwardly through the lower end of the body portion, said opening having a watertight removable closure, a. concentrically disposed cup shaped receptacle on the upper surface of said partition, a tubular battery casing disposed within the body portion with its lower end in said receptacle and extending upwardly into the lantern head, a bulb secured to the upper end of said casing and a mercury operated switch carriedby the casing within the head adapted to interrupt the flow of current to the bulb when the buoy is inverted, means for positioning the casing within the buoy and for adjustably maintaining the height of the bulb within the lantern head, and means for maintaining the buoy in an inverted position when not in use.

2. A buoy according to claim 1 in which the receptacle for the lower end of said casing is provided for threaded engagement with a recess provided on ,the surface of the transverse partition.

3. A buoy according to claim 1 in which the means for positioning the battery casing comprises an annular disc member, having a clamp member secured to its inner edge by dependent arms, supported on a shoulder in an opening in the upper end of therbody portion and maintained in rigid and watertight relation thereto by means of the lantern head including a light transmitting globe and interposed gaskets.

4. A buoy according toclalm 1 in which said body portion consists of two oppositely disposed conic sections in watertight abutment at their 5 bases, both sections having integrally formed stiffened portions and the lower section have a plurality of ring shaped bracing members secured to the inner surface above and adjacent to the transverse partition the ein.

THOMAS 0. DAY. 

